Door lock



Jan. 15, 1957 J ROETHEL 2,777,720

DOOR LOCK Filed Aug. 20, 1955 IN V EN TOR. JoH/v P05 THEL ATTORNEYUnited States Patent DOOR LOCK John H. Roethel, Coral Gables, Fla.,assignor to Roethel Engineering Corporation, Detroit, Mich, acorporation of Michigan Application August 20, 1953, Serial No. 375,430

9 Claims. (Cl. 292-280) This invention relates to a latch mechanism forswinging doors, particularly the doors of automobiles or other vehiclebodies, an object of the invention being to provide an improved doorlatch mechanism which is characterized by its simplicity and compactnessin construction and which is relatively small in size, economical tomanufacture, comparatively quiet in operation and eflicient in use.

More particularly the present invention is embodied in an improved doorlatch mechanism having a rotatable latch member, a pivoted dog or detentcooperable therewith, and shiftable detent release means mounted on asupporting plate or the like at the jamb edge of the door, the detentrelease means being operable from the outside of the door and beingrendered inoperative to release or disengage the detent by means of amovable blocking member mounted preferably on a flange extendingangularly from the inner edge of the supporting plate, said blockingmember being movable preferably by an inner manually operable means intoand out of blocking relation to the release means. In the one embodimentof the invention, the blocking member not only blocks disengagement ofthe detent through actuation of the release means from the outside ofthe door but also renders the inside remote control means inoperative torelease the detent.

Further characteristics of the latch mechanism in accordance with theembodiments of the present invention herein illustrated by way ofexample may be briefly summarized as follows: The rotatable latch boltis mounted on the plate portion and has a series of tooth-likeprojections extending entirely around the periphery thereof. A detentengaging latch device is secured to the latch bolt and is mounted toturn or rotate about the same axis as the bolt and has a series ofabutments corresponding to the tooth-like projections on the bolt. Adetent means is pivotally mounted on the plate portion and has aplurality of arms, one of which is engageable with any one of the latchdevice abutments. The detent release means preferably, although notnecessarily comprises a lever having a plurality of arms, the leverbeing pivotally mounted on the plate portion to swing about the pivotalaxis of the detent means on a common pivot means and having a partdisposed in opposing relation to a part of one of the detent arms sothat movement of the release lever in one direction will causecorresponding movement of the detent. The part on the release lever andthe part on the detent arm are not interlocked thus permitting pivotalactuation of the detent means independently of the release lever.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending applicationsNo. 151,839, filed March 25, 1950, and No. 156,804, filed April 19,1950, now abandoned.

Further features and objects of the particular embodiments of theinvention herein illustrated will appear in the following description,reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part of thespecification "ice wherein like reference numerals designatecorresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. l is a sectional elevation taken substantially through lines 1-1 ofFig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating a doorlock constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken substantially through lines 2-2 of Fig. 1looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a view in part similar to Fig. 1 illustrating a secondembodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially through lines 4-4 of Fig. 3looking in the direction of the arrows.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited to the details of construction andarrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since theinvention is capable of other embodiments, and of being practiced orcarried out in various ways. is!) it is to be understood that thephraseology or terminology employed therein is for the purpose ofdescription and not limitation.

In the drawings there is illustrated, by way of example, particularembodiments of the present invention as applied to the doors and framestructures of an automobile body. The latch device embodied in themodification of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a caseplate 10 provided with screw bosses 10a by means of which the case plate11 is secured to the inner side of the jamb portion or free edge wall ofa vehicle door. The case plate 10 terminates at its inner edge in aflange 11 which is adapted to be positioned along the inner panel of thedoor. The latch device is preferably provided with a rotatable toothedlatch or bolt 12 positioned at the outer side of the case plate 10, thislatch or bolt having an integral projecting shaft or shank 13 extendingthrough an aperture in the case plate which is formed with a bearing forthe bolt shank. The inner end of the shank 13 of the bolt is flattenedand extended through a correspondingly shaped aperture in a rotatabletoothed detent engaging member or ratchet 14 and is riveted thereto.

The rotatable latch 12, as shown in dotted outline in Fig. l, is formedwith a number of radially projecting tooth-like projections 120,preferably six, which are spaced equally around the periphery of thelatch so as to provide in eflect a gear type latch or bolt. The toothedmember 14 is also formed around its periphery with a number oftooth-like abutments or projections 14a which correspond in number tothe tooth-like projections 12a of the latch bolt.

Pivotally mounted on a shoulder rivet 15 secured to the case plate is isa swinging detent, pawl or dog 16 which has a downwardly projectingdetent arm 17 cooperable with any one of the projections 14a of theratchet member 1 The detent arm 17 is engageable with any one of theprojections 14a in the manner shown in Fig. l to hold the toothedratchet member and, hence, the bolt 12 in looking position againstrotation in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. The detent 16 isalso provided with an upwardly projecting arm or extension 18 and alsoan inwardly extending arm or extension 19.

Thus, the detent in the embodiment herein shown is provided with threearms 17, 18 and 19, and is preferably formed from a piece of flat metalstock.

Associated with detent 16 is a detent actuating lever 20 which ispivoted at its lower end upon the shoulder rivet 15 so as to turn orswing about the axis of the detent case plate 10. V

the remote control bell crank 30 and has a portion em-' of the doorsuch, for example, as a handle or by any other preferredmeans such as apush button associated with an outside door handle. 7

The detent arm 17 is yieldingly urged toward the toothed' member 14' andthe 'de-tent release lever 29 is urged outwardly toward itsretractedposition shown in Fig; 1 by means oi'ancommon spring 23. Thisspring has asubstantially horizontally extendingarm 23a engaging thedetent arm 17l'and has an upper spirally wound coiled portion 23!),secured at 24' to the case plate 10. It will be nomd that the releaselever 29 overlies thedetent 16 and has itsninner edge abutting against alug or projection 18a on the detent. Hence -the eflort exerted by thespring 23 in urging the detentarm 17 into engagement with theratchet-member l-has shown in Fig.1,

a will also betransmitted'through thelug 13a to the release lever 24thereby urging the latter toward its retracted position. Thefinalretracted position-of the release lever 20 is-determined' by a stop 1%in the form of a; lug

- struck up-from the upper edge of the case plate 1b and of. the doorremote from the case plate 1%) by means of a door handle whichmay beturned in the desired directionl, Suitablyconnected to the inside door.handle is a longitudinally extending draft link 27' whichist pivoted -at;28-to ,the lower end of one arm 29 of -a bell crank lever 30. This bellcrank lever 30 is pivoted at 31 to the case plate flange 11 and isprovidedwith a projecting arm 32 -overlying at its outer end the detentarm 19 .and also the release lever arm 2,6. Normally when the insidedoor handle is turned'soas to swing the bell crank lever arm 32downwardly, the latter by. engagement with the detent arm 19 will swingthe detent in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, thus swingingthe detentlarm 17 upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1 'so as todisengage the detent from the member 153. It will be noted that in thepresent embodiment, the detent arm 19 could be eliminated since downwardmovement of the bell crank arm 32 will cause the same to engage thedetentrelease lever arm 26-and swing the detent release lever 20in aclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. l. The detent 16 by virtue of theabutting relationship of itspart' 13a with the arm 21 of the detentrelease lever 2*!) would also be swung in a clockwise direction therebyhaving its arm 17swung out of engagement with the ratchet member 14.This action is similar 'to'that which occurs when the release lever 29is swung inwardly by operation of the outside door handle, push buttonor the like, the motionof the release lever'being transmitted tothed'etent through thelug 18a.

in the present embodiment means is provided for rendering the detentrelease lever 24) inoperative to disengage thedetent 16, such as byblocking the same so thatv the door cannot be opened from the. outside.This is accomplished through the medium of a pivoted member 33 mountedon the case plate 11 by-means or" the pivot stud 31. The pivotedmember-33 is provided with an arm 34 extending in a generaily horizontaldirection toward the The arm 34 lies above the arm 320E bossed'outwardlyfrom the case plate' fiange 11 which embossed portion 34acan'bejpositioned in opposing relation to the projection 25 -on thedetent release lever so as to block swinging movement of the releaselever 29. Thecnd of the arm 34 has a lug 34b turned toward the caseplate flange 11 and engageable therewith, as

shown in Fig. 1, to prevent bending of the embossed portion 341: underpressure of the release lever 20.

In, the present embodiment the pivoted member 33 may be pivotally movedto place the arm 34 in blocking relation to the release lever 20 bymeans of a vertically shift-able rod or plunger 35. The pivoted member33 has a portion 36'projecting fromJ-he; pivotal axis 31 in a directionopposite to the directioninwhich the arm 34 projects. The verticallyshifta ble rod'or plunger is pivotally conn ct d to-thisnroi ction r. prt on ;a 3 a an extends upwardly throughat-he garnish molding at. theinner side of the glass panel of the vehicle door-.- The rod'35 carriesat its upper end a knob fl WhiCll may be grasped V 7 at'the inside ofthe door to shift the rod or plunger.

vertically in either-direction, therebY;:rock-ing the member 33 aboutits pivotal axis and shifting the arm 34 to position it in blockingrelation to. the release lever 20' position as for'limiting the pivotalmovement ofthepivoted member 7 It will be noted thatwhen the embossedportion 34a I of the pivoted member arm'34-is in opposing positionrelative tothe release lever arm projection 25, that is, the dotted lineposition shown in Fig. 1, not only is'the outer manually operable means,such as the plunger 22, rendered inoperative to disengage the detent 16from the,

ratchet member 14, but. the inner manually remote control operablemeans-is also rendered inoperative That is, the bell crank lever 36cannot be swung in a counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 2, ordetent-engaging direction.

Thearm26 will block such movement. I

Latch mechanism of the foregoing construction in.

which the mechanism may be held against'unlatching from either'theoutside or inside of the door are particularly desirable for use on therear door of vehicles. Sometimes the objective of locking the rear door,particularly while the vehicle is-in motion, isto prevent'children frominadvertently unlatching the'doorzand falling out. In the presentembodiment the latch mechanism can only be placedin unlockedconditionthrough the pushbutton- 37.

The arrng34 of the pivoted, member 33 has been de- 1 scribed asoverlying the bell crank lever arm 32 7 Thus,

if the remotecontrol mechanism to which the draft link;

27 is;conn cted;is of the type permitting he' e i crank b swung ineither.v dir tioaf-romli s:norm l po it on 7 ho n HE LZ, i illbeapparent' hatithepivoted'memr, 33 c be. swung into bl ckinenos t onWihout th use of the push button 37.; If, the bell crank-Zitlis SW/ 155.

in, a clockwise direction, as viewed-in Fig. 2, 111631111 32 thereofwill abut the arm 34 of the pivoted member 33,

raising the latter toblockingposition. However, it will still benecessary to raise the push button 37.to'restore,

the pivoted member 33 to non-blocking position,

One additional feature of construction not hereinbefore described isthe, rubber bumper 41 mounted on thecaseplatelfl at 42 in aposition tooverlie the upper edgeof the detent-arm 19. The purpose of the rubberbumper 42 is to provide a resilient cushion against which the .detentarm 19 will abut before the detent arm 17 fully returns into engagementwith the ratchet teeth 14a after. having been disengaged therefrom, thusmaterially reducing the noise of th e engagement. of the arm 1'7 withthe atchetll Th embodiment f. he, inventio ill s r ed nE gs- 3 n 4 issiilar in many e pect the em odim n hereb te de cr bed; an allfpa t herot. im lar. o he Partsin Figs. 1 and 2. hav eeaide t fied wi h the a ne.

numerals.

I In the present embodiment the detent release lever 20 is not providedwith an arm corresponding to the arm 26 of the embodiment of Figs. 1 and2. Thus, when the release lever 20 is blocked by the blocking portion34:: of the blocking member, herein designated 43, only the outermanually operable means is rendered ineffective to release the detent 16from the ratchet member 14. This isbecause there is nothing to blockswinging movement of the arm 19 of the bell crank lever 30 in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4. With the exception ofthe elimination of the arm 26 of the detent release lever 20, all of theother parts of the latch mechanism of the present embodiment mounted onthe case plate are similar to those mounted on the case plate 10 of theembodiment of Figs. 1 and 2.

The blocking member 43 of the present embodiment differs somewhat fromthe previously described blocking member 33, although it does have thearm 34 having the embossed blocking portion 34a. However, the projection36 of the blocking member 33 is not utilized on the blocking member 43.The blocking member 43 is provided instead with an arm 44 extendingbelow the bell crank arm 32, the arm 44 at the end thereof having aprojection 45 extending toward said lower edge of the arm 32.

The present embodiment operates as follows: To position the blockingmember 43 so that the blocking portion 34a thereon is in opposingrelation to the detent release lever projection 25, the bell crank 30 isswung in a clockwise direction causing the arm 32 thereof to abutembossed or blocking portion 34a and swing the blocking member 43 in aclockwise direction, thereby positioning the blocking member in blockingposition. Since the detent release lever 20 in the present embodimentdoes not have the arm 26, there is nothing to block swinging movement ofthe bell crank 30 in a counterclockwise direction even though therelease lever 20 is blocked against swinging movement by the blockingmember 43. Accordingly, the bell crank lever 30 may be swung in suchclockwise direction to disengage the detent from the member 14. When theblocking member 43 is in blocking position, the projection 45 on the arm44 will be in a position immediately underlying the bell crank lever 30when in its normal position, the position shown in Fig. 4. Thus, if thebell crank 30 is swung in detent disengaging direction, the lower edgeof the arm 32 will abut the projection 45' and cause the blocking member43 to be restored to non-blocking position as limited by the stop 46.The latch mechanism of the present embodiment therefore can always beopened from the inside of the door since only the outer manuallyoperable means is rendered ineffective when the blocking member isplaced in blocking position.

I claim:

1. In a door latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support comprising aplate portion for disposition at the door jamb and having a flangeextending from the inner edge thereof, a latch bolt mounted on saidplate portion to rotate about an axis and having a series of tooth-likeprojections extending around the periphery thereof, a detent engaginglatch device secured to said bolt to rotate therewith about said axisand having a corresponding series of tooth-like abutments, detent meanspivotally mounted on said plate portion and engageable with any one ofsaid abutments for holding said bolt in latching position, a leverpivotally mounted on said plate portion and having a part disposed inopposing relation to a part of said detent means, said parts beingseparate to permit pivotal actuation of the detent means independentlyof said lever, outer manually operable means for swinging said levertoward said flange to cause said lever part by engagement with said partof the detent means to pivotally actuate the detent means thereby todisengage the same from said latch device, said lever having an armextending in the direction of the flange, inner manually operableswingable means engageable upon being swung in one direction with saidlever arm to swing said lever 6. toward said flange, a blocking member'swingably mounted on said flange and shiftable in one direction intoposition to block swinging movement of said lever toward the flange,said blocking member and said inner manually operable swingable meansbeing movable independently of each other about a common pivot axis, andmanually operable means for shifting said blocking member in said onedirection, said directions of movement of said blocking member and saidinner manually operable means being counter to each other.

2. In a door latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support comprising aplate portion for disposition at the door jamb and having a flangeextending from the inner edge thereof, a latch bolt mounted on saidplate portion to rotate about an axi and having a series of tooth-likeprojections extending around the periphery thereof, a detent engaginglatch device secured to said bolt to rotate therewith about said axisand having a corresponding series of tooth-like abutments, detent meanspivotally mounted on said plate portion and engageable with any one ofsaid abutments for holding said bolt in latching position, a leverpivotally mounted on said plate portion and having a part disposed inopposing relation to a part of said detent means, said parts beingseparate to permit pivotal actuation of the detent means independentlyof said lever, outer manually operable means for swinging said levertoward said flange to cause said lever part by engagement with said partof the detent means to pivotally actuate the detent means thereby todisengage the same from said latch device, inner manually operableswingable means on said flange having a portion engageable with aportion of said lever to swing said lever toward said flange, andblocking means on said flange shiftable into and out of position toblock swinging movement of said lever toward said flange, said swingablemeans and said blocking means being movable independently of each otherabout a common pivot axis, the direction of movement in which saidswingable means is swung to swing said lever being counter to thedirection of movement of the blocking means when the latter is shiftedinto blocking position.

3. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a plateportion for disposition at the door jamb, a rotatable latch devicemounted on said plate portion, an outer manually operable leverpivotally mounted on said plate portion, a blocking portion on saidlever, detent means engageable with said latch device for holding it indoor latching position, said detent means being pivotally mounted onsaid plate portion to swing independently of said lever, said lever atone side of the pivotal axis thereof having a part arranged in opposingrelation to a part of said detent means to abut the same at the sameside of the pivotal axes of said lever and detent means upon swingingmovement of said lever in one rotative direction thereby to pivotallymove said detent means in the same rotative direction out of holdingposition with respect to said latch device, a swingable member on saidsupport having a part movable in a substantially up and down direction,said part having blocking means for cooperation with said blockingportion, an inner manually operable lever pivotally mounted on saidsupport and normally operative when swung in one rotative direction todisengage said detent means from said latch device, said inner manuallyoperable lever having a part arranged in opposing relation to a part ofsaid swingable member to abut the same at the same side of the pivotalaxes of said lever and swingable member upon swinging movement of saidinner manually operable lever in a second rotative direction thereby tomove said swingable member in the same rotative direction to disposesaid blocking means in opposing position to said blocking portion, saidblocking means when in said opposing position rendering said outermanually operable lever ineffective to move said detent means out ofholding position with respect to said latch device.

' mounted::on..said plate portion, a blockingportion on said lever,"detentmeans.- engageable with said; latch device for-holdingit in; doorlatching position, said detent means. beingjpivotally. mounted: on said.plate-portion to swing independently of,- said lever, said, lever, atone siderof the pivotal' axis thereof having a part-.arrangedxinopposing relation to a. part of said, detent-means to, abut. the sameat-thesameside of the pivotal axes oi said. lever and detent means upon:swinging. movement of: said lever in. one; rotative direction thereby topivotally move. said; detent meansain the samefrotative. direction-outof holding posl; tion with respect toisaid latch device, a, sw-ingablemem: benon said flange having; apart movable in asubstantially-up1and-down -direction, said parthaving blocking means:forcooperation. with said blocking. portion, an, inner-manually;operable lever pivotally, mountedon said. flange and-normally operativewhen swu'ng in one. 1'0;- tative 'di-reotion to disengage.saiddetent.meansfrom said. latch device, said; inner manuallyoperablelever having a part arranged in opposing. relation to, a part of said;

sw-ingable memberto. abut thesame. at the-same. side. fv the-pivotalaxesof said lever and swingable member, upon swinging movement of said innermanuallyv operable lever. in *a second rotativedirection thereby to.move said swingable' member in the same. rotative directionto disposedsaid blocking. meansin opposing position to said; blocking portion,saidblocking means when in said opposing positionrendering said outermanually oper: able lever ineffective to move said. detent meansou-t ofholding position with respect to said latch device.

5:. In a latch mechanism .for. a swingingdoor, a sup: port having a.plate portionv for disposition at. the door. jamb, av rotatable latchvdevice mounted on said plate portion, an outer manually operable. lever,pivotally mounted. on said plate portion, -a blocking portion on said.lever, detent .meansengageable with said. latch de: vice for holding itin door latchingposition, said eten means being. pivotally-mounted. onsaid plate portion to swing independently of sa-id'lever about a commonpivot axis t'herewith, saidleveratone side of the pivotal axis thereof:having. a part arranged in opposing relation to a. part of saiddetentmeans to abut the same at the. same,- side of. the pivotal axesof. said lever and detent means upon/swinging movement of said lever inone rotative direction thereby to pivotally move said detent means inthesamerota tive direction out of holding position with respect tosaidlatch device, aswingable member on said support having a; part movableinv a substantially; up and downdirection, said part having blockingmeans for cooperation withsaid blocking portion, :an inner mann: ally.operable lever pivotallvmounted on said support and. normally operativewhen swung in one liotative Eli: rection'to disengage said detent meansfrom said. latch device, said inner, manually operable lever having apart arranged in opposing relation to apart'o f said swingable membeptoabut the same at the same side of the pivotal axes of said lever andswingable member upon. swinging movement of. said inner manuallyoperable lever in a second rotative direction thereby to move said silingable member in the same rotative direction to dispose said blockingmeans in opposing position. to said blocking portion, said blockingmeans when in said opposing position rendering said outer manuallyoperable lever ineffective to. move said. detent means out of holdingposition with re pect o a a l d vi independently, of sai'd le er'aboutacommon, pivot axi -therewith, s 'dleyerraltonesideo thelpivotalaxis there r havin g a,.p a rt arrangedin opposinglrelationlj to.a .part or... said rdetent means redefines-time" a'tjt'he. sameside'rof p operable lever pivotally t-h ldin it s oon at as a ni s i fitsm. men being 'pi 5t lyfmjq i lifii .1 1isaicl plate portion" to swirlthe. pivotal axe o said leyer andl detent means upo n in mq ai it iaisi. ev 1 q v s: r te l! move. an: e i a s' h* a me Qta iYs s qn. t f;hqld posi ve w hin;

spectto said latch device, a swingable member on,sai d tion hereb o ppport ay t wvable in ll st nfia'l v p and; down direct on sa dart,having blocking means for co- P I i i h..= idb ckin PQI Q l an inneran lv' unted on said support to swing ep denfl'vefl ids in abl m mbe a as mo J pivot axis therewitha dnmma Y pe a i e. whe wung:

' in cnerotative. d rec on IQdEfiH B d. dfii i ihfi from said; latch,-.device, said inner manually operable 1 lever. having a, part arrangedinopposing relation to a part of. said swingable memben to abut thegsameattire same side of the. pivotal.- axes of, said leverand swingablemember uponswinging movementof saidinnerpmanually operable lever. in asecond rotatiYe-direction thereby to 2 movesaid swingablemember, inthesame rotative direction to dispos'elsaid blockingmeansin opposingpositio to said-blo'ckingportion, said blocking means'when in. saidopposing position rendering said outer manually; operablelever'inefiective tomove said detentfmeansout; of holdingposition'withrespect to said latch device. i 1

7-; In-alat'ch mechanism for a swinging door,.a support. a

having a plate portiorifor disposition. at. the door jam'b;

a rotatable latch device mounted on said plate portion,

an outer manually operable lever pivotally mounted on said plateportion, a blocking portion on'said lever, detent;.'

means engageable' with said latch 'devicefor holdingitinj door latchingpositionjsai'd detentmeans being pivotally v mounted on said plateportion to swing independently of. said lever about a common pivot axistherewith, said lever I at; one side of the'pivotal-i axis thereofhaving a part ar..

ranged in opposing relation to a part of said detent means to a bu'tthe'sarne at the samesid'e' of the pivotal axes of '7 said leveran'ddetent means upon swinging movement of; said lever in one rotatifvedirection therebyto pivotally move said detent means in the'sanie'rotative directionout of holdingIpositionwith respect to said latchdevicefaff swingable member on said flange having a part movable in asubstantially and down direction, said part having" i blocking means forcooperatioriwith said blocking por tion, an'ra erfmnn n' operable leverpivotally mounted on said flange and normally'operative when swung inone rotative direction to disengage said detent means from: said latchdevice, said inner manually operable lever having a part arranged'in'opposing relation to fa part of said swingablemernbelr to' abutthesame at the same'side' of e the pivotal axes' 'of said lever andswingable member upon swinging movement of said inner manually operablelever Q in a second rotative direction thereby to movesaidswing ablemember in thesame rotative direction to dispose said blocking: inopposin 'g position to said blocking pori tion, said blocking means when'in'said opposing position rendering said omeemanu'auy operable lever"inefiective to mov'esai'cl detent means'out or holding position withrespect to said' latch device.

inalatch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a plateornonz'ror disposition at the door jam'b,

a rotatable latch device mounted on said plate portion,

an outer manually" operable actuator} mounted on said" plate portion, ablocking portionin-said actuator, detent means engageabl'e with saidlatch. device for holdingfit} in door latchin g position, saiddetent-means being pivot-5 ally mouatea on' said plate portion to swingindependently.

qlilsaid agitator, saida ctuator at'one's'ide thereof havinga arrangediii opposing relation to .a. part of said. detent means to abutthe sameupon: movement of said actuator in one direction thereby to pivotallymove said detent means out of holding position with respect to saidlatch device, a swingable member on said support having a part movablein a substantially up and down direction, said part having blockingmeans for cooperation with said blocking portion, an inner manuallyoperable lever pivotally mounted on said support and normally operativewhen swung in one rotative direction to disengage said detent means fromsaid latch device, said inner manually operable lever having a partarranged in opposing relation to a part of said swingable member to abutthe same at the same side of the pivotal axes of said lever andswingable member upon swinging movement of said inner manually operablelever in a second rotative direction thereby to move said swingablemember in the same rotative direction to dispose said blocking means inopposing position to said blocking portion, said blocking means when insaid opposing position rendering said outer manually operable actuatorineffective to move said detent means out of holding position withrespect to said latch device.

9. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a plateportion for disposition at the door jamb, a rotatable latch devicemounted on said plate portion, an outer manually operable actuatormounted on said plate portion, a blocking portion on said actuator,detent means engageable with said latch device for holding it in doorlatching position, said detent means being pivotally mounted on saidplate portion to swing independently of said actuator, said actuator atone side thereof having a part arranged in opposing relation to a partof said detent means to abut the same upon movement of said actuator inone direction thereby to pivotally move said detent means out of holdingposition with respect to said latch device, a swingable member on saidflange having a part movable in a substantially up and down direction,said part having blocking means for cooperation with said blockingportion, an inner manually operable lever pivotally mounted on saidflange and normally operative when swung in one rotative direction todisengage said detent means from said latch device, said inner manuallyoperable lever having a part arranged in opposing relation to a part ofsaid swingable member to abut the same at the same side of the pivotalaxes of said lever and swingable member upon swinging movement of saidinner manually operable lever in a second rotative direction thereby tomove said swingable member in the same rotative direction to disposesaid blocking means in opposing References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS Roethel June 19, 1951 Roethel July 22, 1952

